IBIS-Flora

Angiosperm Flora of India

Mixed-grass prairie rhizome biomass is influenced by cattle grazing intensity

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2013
Authors:Dong, X, Cheng, F-C, Wang, D, WANG, G, Patton, BD, Nyren, PE
Journal:Grass and Forage Science
Volume:68
Issue:1
Date Published:2013
ISBN Number:1365-2494
Keywords:bootstrap, nested anova, plant roots, rhizomes
Abstract:

This study was conducted on a mixed-grass prairie in south-central North Dakota, USA, to test the effect of animal grazing on rhizome biomass. Below-ground plant biomass samples were collected from pastures with moderate and heavy grazing by beef cattle. Because the biomass data did not meet the normality assumptions, the computer resampling method involving a nested anova was used. A reduction in rhizomes was found under heavy grazing, as compared with moderate grazing. Although rhizomes only accounted for a small fraction of total below-ground plant biomass, our study suggested that the high rhizome density found in the moderately grazed pastures might be partly responsible for the greater potential of plant regrowth in the moderately grazed pastures than in the heavily grazed pastures on this mixed-grass prairie.

URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.2012.00889.x
Short Title:Grass and Forage Science
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